Encouragement
It's easy to take privileges for granted. Many people assume a driver's license is a right rather than a privilege. The same can be true of the privileges enjoyed as God's children.
"Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God." (Galatians 4.6-7)
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Don't beat yourself up trying to earn it. The price is higher than you can pay, but there is a solution.
"No man can by any means redeem his brother Or give to God a ransom for him—For the redemption of his soul is costly, And he should cease trying forever—That he should live on eternally, That he should not undergo decay." (Psalm 49.7-9)
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The prefix, "re," usually means something done again; for example, reheat, repeat, replay, etc. So, the word, "rejoice," sounds like a word imploring us to be joyful again. Whether that's an accurate definition, we are called to be joyful repeatedly.
"Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you." (Philippians 3.1)
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Nothing is more gratifying than talking with someone who truly understands. Rather than offering platitudes and idealistic theories, such people relate in encouraging and helpful ways. Such is our Savior, Jesus the Christ.
"I am poured out like water, And all my bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It is melted within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And my tongue cleaves to my jaws; And You lay me in the dust of death." (Psalm 22.14-15)
This prophetic Psalm well conveys the raw human experience of Jesus during the agony of the cross. He knew pain and suffering more than anyone
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"Steady as she goes" is an old nautical term meaning to be careful, and avoid sudden changes. Regardless of the crosswinds, waves, or currents, it was a directive to stay the plotted course no matter what. That's good advice for these tumultuous times we live in.
"The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, For in God the LORD we have an everlasting Rock." (Isaiah 26.3-4)
In times of crisis and upheaval, panic easily becomes the order of the day.
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The list of anxiety-producing circumstances can easily be lengthy. The threat of terrorism. Personal illness or injury. Financial crisis. Marital and/or family conflict. But, what situations or circumstances are peace-producing? A vacation? A day at the spa? A good book, or movie?
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful" (Colossians 3.15)
Personal peace, for the follower of Christ, is not about circumstances but inner presence.
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Many people have great concerns about the upcoming election and the direction of this country. Here is both a timely and timeless perspective: "It is He who changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and establishes kings" (Daniel 2.21)
Candidates and politicians posture and position, but it Yahweh God who ultimately controls their destiny, and ours.
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It's a fundamentally important truth in understanding who and what we are. If we misunderstand this, there are implications for how we live our lives, and what we hope for.
"Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." (Genesis 2.7)
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The problem of pain is perplexing. Why do bad things happen to good people? If there is an answer to this enduring mystery, it is to be found in the suffering of God's Son.
"But the Lord was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand." (Isaiah 53.10)
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Carefully choose your battles. That's timeless advice I find truer the older I get. There are plenty of battles to be fought, but it's imperative to fight the right ones.
"Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.' ” (John 18.36)
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One time I was at a model horse show with my late wife Gaylene, though at the time she was my girlfriend.
Guessing that most those reading this have not had the pleasure of attending one. If you see that picture, this gives you an idea. Each person that enters gets a table to put their models on, and during the day different “classes” will be called for different breeds or horse patterns and you bring up the right horse to be judged.
Anyway… I am at the model horse show and someone says that you can order horses today from Candy Liddy’s representative. Candy is a well-known Bronze, Resin, and other medium artist from St. Bonnie, MN. I talked Gaylene into her first resin horse order. While we were trying to pick out a cool pattern to have it painted in, Gaylene asked me about Dun with the stipe. I asked her to explain what that looked like. Her reply took me off guard…. “Aren’t you a Christian?”
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